Article-dispensing system having an attraction device

Abstract

The merchandising device includes an elongate track that defines a pathway extending therealong to support a row of articles, an arrangement for feeding the articles toward the front end of the track as leading articles in the row are successively removed one by one from the pathway, a stopper provided at the front end of the track, an attraction device for performing an attention-attracting activity, and a sensor for detecting movement of the articles in the row. The articles when supported by the track are movable along the pathway and are removable therefrom via the front end of the pathway. The stopper engages the leading articles so that all the articles in the row are prevented from being accidentally removed via the front end of the track. Due to the stopper, the leading articles are stopped and presented for removal from the pathway when arriving at the front end of the track. The sensor is electrically connected to the attraction device so as to trigger the activity of the attraction device upon detection of movement of the articles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A merchandising device for displaying and dispensing articles, comprising: a track having a front end and a rear end and defining a pathway therealong to support a row of articles such that said articles are movable along said pathway and are removable from said pathway via said front end;   means for feeding said articles toward said front end as a leading article in said row is removed from said pathway;   stopper means provided at said front end of said track for engagement with said leading article so as to prevent said leading article from being accidentally removed via said front end whereby said leading article when arriving at said front end is stopped and presented for removal from said pathway;   an attraction device for performing an attention-attracting activity; and   a sensor for detecting movement of said articles in said row, said sensor being connected to said attraction device so as to trigger said activity upon detection of movement of said articles.   
     
     
       2. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is mounted on said track adjacent said front end so as to trigger said activity upon detection of removal of said leading articles from said pathway. 
     
     
       3. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a mechanical switch positioned to be operated by movement of said article. 
     
     
       4. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor mounted on said track. 
     
     
       5. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a motion sensor. 
     
     
       6. The merchandising device according to claim 3, wherein said switch is located for operation by direct contact with said leading article such that said switch is turned off by said leading article upon arrival thereof at said front end and is turned on by said leading article upon removal thereof from said pathway. 
     
     
       7. The merchandising device according to claim 3, further comprising a gate mechanism for blocking said pathway in response to arrival of said leading article at said front end such that forward movement of the other articles in said row is blocked by said gate mechanism and for unblocking said pathway in response to removal of said leading article from said pathway, said switch being located for operation by said gate mechanism such that said switch is turned off in response to blocking action of said gate mechanism and is turned on in response to unblocking action of said gate mechanism. 
     
     
       8. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises a support structure for supporting said track such that said track is inclined downwardly toward said front end whereby said articles are allowed to gravity feed toward said front end as said leading article is removed from said pathway. 
     
     
       9. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises a pusher movably connected to said track for movement along said pathway and having a front side for engagement with a rearmost article in said row, and a spring for urging said pusher toward said front end so as to move all articles in said row toward said front end. 
     
     
       10. The merchandising device according to claim 7, wherein each of said articles has a neck and a integrally formed annular neck flange, and said track comprises a pair of substantially parallel rails extending along said pathway so as to suspend said articles by said neck flanges for movement along said pathway, said rails being spaced apart to receive therebetween said necks of said articles such that said articles are slidably engaged at underside of said neck flanges with said rails. 
     
     
       11. The merchandising device according to claim 10, wherein said stopper means comprises a length of said track adjacent to said front end, said length being upturned relative to an immediately preceding length of said track to provide a forwardly upwardly sloping section along which said leading article travels so that said leading article is braked to a stop and presented for removal from said pathway. 
     
     
       12. The merchandising device according to claim 10, wherein said gate mechanism comprises a seesaw arm pivotally connected to said track for upward and downward movement, and said switch is positioned for operation by said seesaw arm. 
     
     
       13. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said track comprises a floor for positioning said articles thereon for movement therealong, and a pair of spaced parallel side walls upstanding from said floor to form in cooperation with said floor a channel structure having a U-shaped cross section, said stopper means comprises a front wall upstanding from said floor at said front end of said track so as to close a front opening of said track, and said sensor comprises a mechanical switch mounted on said front wall to be operated by said leading article. 
     
     
       14. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said attraction device comprises a sound generator. 
     
     
       15. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said attraction device comprises a light emitter. 
     
     
       16. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said attraction device comprises a scent emitter. 
     
     
       17. The merchandising device according to claim 1, wherein said attraction device comprises a mechanical movement device.